Snelling Lake
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Snelling Lake Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Water Temperature
58°
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Fall
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Minnows
Caught over 25 pike. 5 measured 28 inches. The biggest was 29.5". I fished the half of the lake near the boat launch. The fish are really fat, healthy and feeding for winter. The big fish pulled me around in my kayak. We also caught chunky bass. Chatterbaits with craw trailers and inline spinners were irresistible to the pike.
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Caught a dozen Northern Pike on the 1/2oz ZMan Big Blade Chatterbait, fire craw color with matching 4 1/4” Big Bite Baits Kamikazee Swimon green pumpkin flamethrower trailer. Non-stop action just slow rolling through submerged weeds. Biggest one was 35.75”.
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Fall
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
65°
I was throwing a 4/0 EWG underspin hook set up with a 3.8" Keitech smallmouth magic swimbait. I had colored the tail with a chartreuse garlic dip. Snelling is not a deep lake but it does have a lot of submerged vegetation. I work submerged weed edges into deeper water (7-8') for the most consistent action. A steady retrieve with a occasional pause was the most effective way to generate a strike that day.
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Perfect kayak fishing lake. I fished it a lot last fall and can't resist the pike action there. 7 members from the MN Kayak Fishing Association met up to fish it May 17, 2022. The weeds were just starting to come up. Pike were stacked in south end of the lake. I used Z Man Chatterbaits with an X Zone Craw trailer. Leaders are must with the numbers of pike we caught, several of us had bite offs even using fluorocarbon leaders. The fish were incredibly active, jumping at lures as you pulled the lure out of the water at the end of a cast. I caught a couple dozen pike and missed at least a dozen. The largest pike caught in the group was 35"
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Summer
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Perch
I fished Snelling Lake in early June and there weren't many weeds and the water was clear. Yesterday, July 27, 2022, I went back to the lake and the weeds were thick and heavy and water clarity was low. Both outings produced lots of nice pike. This lake is a top pick of mine for pike action. Both outings I used ZMan Chatterbaits tipped with X-zone plastics (swammers or craws). The lake is not deep, once you cast you need to start your retrieve quickly to keep your lure running above the weeds. Yesterday I caught 5 pike and lost 3 in the first hour on the lake. The Zman chatterbait's thumping helped the pike find the lure. If you like catching pike, try Zman chatterbaits with Xzone lures on Snelling Lake! NOTE: Snelling part of an MN state park, you'll need a day or annual pass. It also has motor restrictions, I fished it from my kayak.
